A New Day for Women's Philanthropy
Keeping pace with a larger trend, what was formerly known as the Federation’s Women’s Division will now be known as Women’s Philanthropy. Leslie Crane, immediate past president of Women’s Philanthropy in Rochester, spoke about the change. “As women, we know that tzedakah is not charity,it’s righteousness, it’s philanthropy. We are role models and we give in our own names. We embrace our ability to have an impact. We see ourselves as agents of change and we know we can make a difference.

A fundraising arm of the Jewish Federation, Women's Philanthropy functions as a creative force for connecting Jewish women through outreach events and community education programs. Through our work on behalf of the UJA Federation Campaign, women take a leading role in raising funds to meet the needs of Jews locally, in Israel, and around the world. We currently raise well over $1 million annually from committed women in Rochester's Jewish community.

Learn more about what the Campaign supports. Get a Campaign update.

Who We Are

We are women aged 20 to 120 who are partners in tikkun olam, repair of the world.  We gather together to respond to the needs of our community, both locally and abroad, through fundraising, volunteerism and education.

Women's Philanthropy is representative and inclusive.

Women's Philanthropy is YOU.

Possible avenues for involvement range from our socially conscious Young Women's Outreach group, our informative Lunch & Learn series, and our impactful Women's Education Day program, and our women's fund raiser, the Main Event.

Women's Philanthropy co-presidents Harriette Howitt and Hannah Rosenblatt and Women's Financial Resource Development Chair Lorraine P. Wolch invite you to become involved in women's philanthropy and in all women's activities through the Federation.

Find out about Young Women's Outreach. (for ages 25-45)

Why a Woman's Gift?

• Women's giving demonstrates dedication to, and acceptance of, responsibility for the needs of the global community.
• Money is influence; the more women give in their own name, the greater their credibility and power as leaders and policy makers.
• Women's giving is fiscal evidence of the influence women exert as full partners and decision-makers in the family, in the community, and in nation building.
• Women can impact Jewish political power; U.S. government leaders count the number of givers when they measure support for Israel and local communities.
•  Women have an obligation to practice tzedakah, justice, in their own right.
  

Women's Philanthrophy and the Lion of Judah

Watch out - there are 100 Lions at large in the community! These Lions are of the philanthropic variety, and this powerful pride packs quite a punch. Lions of Judah, women who give $5,000 or more to the annual UJA Federation Campaign, are represented in very high numbers here for a community of our size.

Jewish women of Rochester are a generous, committed group in general, witnessed by the close to $1.5 million donated annually by women to date. A total of 1,350 women make individual gifts to the Federation, regardless of whether they give as part of a couple or a family.

"As we have benefited from the dedication of previous generations,” noted Lorraine Wolch, Women’s Financial Resource Development Chair, “we understand the importance of supporting our community today by personally making a gift, in whatever amount we can, to the annual campaign. I know that together, we will continue to go from strength to strength.”


Rochester’s Lions of Judah quietly donate about two thirds of the total Women’s Campaign. Rachel Glazer, Lion of Judah Co-chair, with Marjorie Goldstein, says, “I am proud to be part of a group of women who stand together and enjoy working together in support of Jewish philanthropy in Rochester, Israel and around the world, women who never lose sight of the importance of remembering those less fortunate than we are, especially in these tough economic times.”

You may have seen the distinctive Lion of Judah pin on the lapel of some of our local “pride.” Of the total Rochester group, we are fortunate to have one ILR (International Leadership Reunion) Lion, an annual donor of $250,000 or more whose Lion pin includes a diamond pave; one Zahav Lion ($50,000 or more) whose pin has a canary diamond; five Emerald Lions ($25,000 or more); two Sapphire Lions ($18,000 or more); and 26 Ruby Lions ($10,000 or more).

Lions take their commitment to the Campaign seriously and many opt to endow their gifts to perpetuate the important work supported by the Campaign into the future. Forty Rochester Lions have taken the step to create a Lion of Judah Endowment (LOJE) to date. This way they can be assured that they have established a legacy of caring and support for the Jewish community in perpetuity.

Lions of Judah get together at special receptions, parlor meetings and thank-you events during the year. The International Lion of Judah Conference, held annually, draws strong attendance from Rochester Lions. Whether in Washington DC or in Tel Aviv, as was the case last year, the power of Jewish women’s philanthropy is never more in evidence than at a gathering of hundreds of committed women leaders. A total of 18 local Lions traveled to Israel for the Tel Aviv conference in November 2008, where 1,100 Lions (and family members) “shared the pride” of Israel’s 60th anniversary. Highlights included world renowned speakers like Israel’s Tzipi Livni and receiving home hospitality with Israeli Lions.

The Federation is deeply grateful to our Lions of Judah, and to all of Women’s Philanthropy, for their exemplary commitment to Jewish peoplehood worldwide.
 
Want to learn more about our Lion of Judah program? There’s always room for more in this pride! Just give Randy Morgenstern a call, 461-0490, ext. 260.

Learn more about living generously through the UJA Federation Campaign.

Contact Randy, at rmorgenstern@jewishrochester.org if you are interested in learning more about Women's Philanthropy at any and all giving levels!